The government-endorsed program, Malaysia, My Second Home, is set to attract more Australians to visit Malaysia with its incentives.

Introduced in 2002, this program replaced the Silver Hair Program set up in 1996, to specifically attract foreign visitors wishing to live in Malaysia for extended periods. Director of Tourism Malaysia Sydney, Mr Shahrin Mokhtar, says participants of the Malaysia, My Second Home program are given a social visit pass as well as a multiple-entry visa from the Malaysian Immigration Department which is valid for ten years, and renewable thereafter.

“The pass and visa entitle these visitors to property and car purchases, tax exemptions on pensions, as well as foreign income brought into the country,” says Shahrin.

The following additional improvements to this program aim to provide better returns for the foreign investors:

The Malaysia My Second Home (MM2H) One-Stop Centre now accepts applications directly from interested applicants. However, applicants wishing to apply through appointed agents can still do so (visit www.mm2h.gov.my for more details).

Foreigners married to Malaysians are now eligible to apply for the program.

Participants above 50 years old with specialized skills and expertise are now allowed to work part-time (maximum of 20 hours a week) in sectors approved by the government.

Participants are now allowed to do business and make investments in Malaysia subject to domestic regulations and requirements as outlined by the Foreign Investment Committee in Malaysia (www.epu.gov.my)

The ten-year Social Visit Pass is extended to all Silver Hair (previous program) and MM2H participants who were previously approved under the five-year social visit pass program (subject to the validity of their passports).

Employment Pass holders who wish to retire and participate in the MM2H program are exempted from the “cooling off period” on the condition that their application to participate in MM2H program is submitted 3 months before the expiry of the Employment Pass.

Identity cards will now be issued to MM2H participants with permanent address in Malaysia. This is validated by submitting the Sales and Purchase Agreement or Tenancy Agreement in Malaysia.

The age limit of unmarried dependent children has now been raised from 18 to 21 years. A declaration stating that the child is unmarried and all expenses during their stay in Malaysia will be borne by the principal participant of the MM2H program will be required upon application.

‘Dependents’ now include unmarried children aged 21 years and below, step-children, disabled children and parents (over 60 years old).

The program has succeeded in attracting 12,566 participants between 1996 and 2008. The top five countries are China (2,231), Bangladesh (1,646), United Kingdom (1,497), Japan (921) and Singapore (710).

“More and more people are looking into this program as the cost of living is one of the lowest in Asia, while the quality of life is among the best,” says Shahrin.

For more information, contact any of the following Tourism Malaysia offices: